Manchester Airport’s Community Trust Fund pledges over £36,000 to local causes

Manchester Airport’s Community Trust Fund has announced it will donate more than £36,000 to community-led projects and groups local to the hub, including 10 in Stockport.

Among those awarded funds at the latest quarterly meeting were Abney Scout and Guide Centre, in Cheadle. The group will receive £3,000 to upgrade and improve the centre’s toilet and shower facilities, to make them fully accessible.

The Abney Scout and Guide Centre’s Carol Pimlott said:

“We are so grateful for the grant, which will help towards the refurbishment of the toilets and in turn will benefit the wider community.”

The Community Trust Fund was founded in December 1997 and is managed by a committee of independent trustees formed of councillors from the six local authority areas which fall within the fund’s catchment area. The airport contributes £100,000 per year to the fund, which provides cash either as a contribution to, or to meet the full cost of, not-for-profit initiatives.

Community-led projects or not-for-profit organisations can apply for up to £3,000 of funding at a time, with requests reviewed on a quarterly basis.

Other Stockport causes to receive funding from the Community Trust Fund were:

• Make Build Grow – £1,000.00 Equipment for creative art and DIY workshops
• Baxter Park Bowling and Community Club – £1,230.00 Outdoor Canopy
• Marple Community Woodcraft – £1,500.00 Tools to create new public benches
• Cheadle Hulme Lacrosse Club – £850.00 Equipment to maintain sports pitches
• Art Attack Arts – £2,689.39 Equipment to support guided music making
• Heaton Norris Community Centre – £2,014.36 Kitchen equipment for Allan’s Café
• Grove Lane Baptist Church – £1,000.00 Defibrillator
• 2nd Gatley Guides and Rangers – £2,994.17 Camping equipment
• Cheadle Hulme Mission Hall – £1,500.00 Stair Lift

Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director at Manchester Airport, said:

“Last year we celebrated a quarter of a century of the Community Trust Fund and we are incredibly proud of the lasting legacy this funding has had across our neighbouring communities. We will continue to make supporting those communities a priority.”

Details on how to apply for a Community Trust Fund grant, and the full criteria, can be found here. The deadline for applications to be considered at the next meeting is Sunday 19^th March.

Pictured: Cllr Bill Fairfoull, Community Trust Fund trustee (L) and Jonathan Reynolds MP (R) meet with Joanne McColl Parry of BLOOM Allotments in Hyde, which received £3,000 from the Community Trust Fund to refurbish their woodshed for community workshops.